The Bentley Continental GT has made its official debut, riding on an all-new platform and offering up a new version of Bentley?s 6.0-liter W12 engine.
The 2018 Continental GT rides on a new adaptive chassis that is closely related to Volkswagen Group?s MSB platform employed in the latest Porsche Panamera. Bentley?s Dynamic Ride System returns, which uses actuators in the anti-roll bars to adjust the chassis stiffness, and is joined by new three-chamber air springs, electronic variable power steering and continuous damper control. Huge 16.5-inch brakes now sit up front (15mm larger than before) and are joined by standard 21-inch wheels or optional 22-inch lightweight forged units.
Under the hood is a heavily revised version of Bentley?s twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine making 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Joining it is a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which is claimed to provide faster shift times and smooth operation. A new all-wheel drive system allows for variable amounts of front-to-rear torque split depending on the driving situation ? replacing the old 40:60 front-rear split system. Bentley claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph for this new Continental, compared with 3.9s to 60 and 206 mph for the 2017 model year car.
Those performance improvements are appropriately joined by a sportier appearance. The lower and longer look was afforded by moving the wheels further forward, while the Continental...